The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-12

as, Kansas or Minnesota, that are be-
ing 80 much benefited by immigra-
ton. But let us now examine the
growth of cities in the States where
immigration and AGRICULTURAL devel-
opment has been abundant:
1870. 1880.
Topeka, Kas............... 5.Tv0.......... ln.457
Kansas Ci,y.......... .....'........ t5,Is2
Minneapolis .....,...... - voo.....--.'''' 1921
1t. Paul...........,. vS0......... Il tIS
Omaha.-....... ........... ls'US5.......... S0,ob
tlyeston.... ........, l3 8ls..,........ 22,Z2S
san AntoniO................ Il, %, $50
These tables certainly demonstrate
the wisdom of my position, that ii
Memphis is to become great city
she must look after the development
of the States which are tributary to
her, as we'll as to the building up Of
local manufactures within her own
limits. They also show clearly the
fact that the main cities of Alabama
and Mississippi are on the decline,
while Memphis is not receiving that
impetus OF prosperity which her To-
cation warrants. The effort Of the
APPEAL to sustain its position.
against immigration, and my state
ment that the agricu tural ortlons
of Alabama, Mississippi and West
Tennessee are not prosperlng, Is
weak. The statistics of the crops in
those States cut poor figure when
subjected to close examination. Sec
rotary Lamar, in recent interview,
furnished some startling facts in con-
nection with the agricultural prog
ress of the South. Mr.. Lamar's
ability as q statesman and as an Of
fcer OF the government is unques-
toned. The question of agricultu
raj progress in the United States is
Immediately in his line as Cabinet
office Mr.. Lamar says:
The apparent prosperity OF the
South is to be found only in the
cities, and not all of them share it.
Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville,
Knoxville, Birmingham and other
cities that are the centers Of mineral
development already made or an-
ticipated are growing rapidly in pop
ulation and apparently in wealth.
Towns, also, that are situated upon
the new railroads that have been
built during the past few years are
larger and more thriving than they
we're, but their growth has been
largely at the expense OF less tortu-
nate towns that have either stood
still or have actually deteriorated.
This circumstance, l think, is likely
to give an erroneous impression to
the stranger passing through the
South. He sees the towns at the
various stations apparently thriving,
the centers of new commercial enter
prises, and he naturally con-
cludes that the South is max
ing very rapid progress, but he
doesn't know that the man who
has opened o new store at one Of
these places has probably removed
there from some town distant from
the railroad where he closed up his
former business; or the man who is
building now house is possibly q
a farmer who hao become discouraged
in the vain effort TO make a living
planting cotton, and has sold out and
come to town hoping to do better, or,
perhaps, to have better opportuni-
ties for the education of his chill
dren."
How do you account dor tho ap-
parent stagnation in what were for
meriy the great commercial centers
of the South2" | asked.
by the depression of the planting
interest, of which | have already
Spoken was tho reply. "They are
dependent upon the agriculture OF
the country"
Haven't the crops been OoodP'
Yes, that OF last year was the
largest ever made with one or two
exceptions. But the crop today il
not proportionally as great as it was
before the war. 1t must be remem-
bered that the population Of the
South increased nearly 80 per cent,
between 1860 and 1880. AS agricult.
ure is almost our only industry, and
as cotton is our principal product, i
we only held our own we ought in
1880 to have marketed so per cent
more cotton than we did before the
war. But the truth is that the large
crop OF last year was only % per cent
greater than that of 1860. In other
words, our population increased dur
ing that twenty years just sbou
twice as last as our ability to feeC
) and clothe it. You wouldn't look fol
prosperity under such circumstances
and you will not think it strange
that the cities which are dependen
upon agriculture for their trad,
should anguish"
, Assistant Secretary Muldrow, o
Mississippi, was present during thi
entire interview, and oorroborate,
everything that Mr.. Lamar said.
! Besides this, Mr.. Lamar's statement
I are verified by statistics. Bot
! Messrs. Lamar and Muldrow ar
s from Mississippi, and certainly the
Z could have no object in decryin
> Southern progress. But as the Ar
: PEAL says this is an age of sta
. tistics, and without them man VIII
writes as to the growth or resource
. of State or community cuts but
'' sorry figure" | will now give fe
: figures from the census reports c
= 1880 as to the number OF acres of in
y proved lands in farms in 1860, 1877
y. and 1880 in Alabama, Mississippi
y and Tennessee. | also include,
= order to show the contrast in deve
~ ~ opment, some of the States who
y V have been receiving large addition
= y to their population by immigration
" ~--Aercs Of Enprsped Loads
1850, 1850 1880.
n Alabama. 6,SS5, S2l 5,062,24 6 S75, I
4, Mississippi &c. sos T55 4.20o,N6 5,2l6,s
~ Tennesseo..,. 6,7p5,SST 6,eH,H0 5 40S s
" Arkanast 4 a